MONTENEGRO AT A GLANCE

Montenegro is a small country in south-eastern Europe. It has
population of about 620,000. Its territory of 13,812 square kilometers
is approximately the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The
population consists of a majority of Montenegrins (62%) along
with Serbs (9%), Albanians (7%), Muslims (15%), Croats (1%) and
others (based on the 1991 census). The majority of the population
belongs to the Orthodox Christian tradition (Montenegrins and
Serbs); there is also a large Muslim population and smaller numbers
of Roman Catholics.

The Political Structure

The official name: Republic of Montenegro

The form of government: Democratic Republic

The form of legislature: unicameral

The main political parties: Democratic Party of Socialists (president:
Milo Djukanovic, new president of the Republic), People's Party
(president: Novak Kilibarda), Liberal Alliance (president: Slavko
Perovic), Social Democratic Party (president: Zarko Rakcevic),
Albanian Democratic League (president: Mehmed Bardhi), and Albanian
Democratic Union (president: Fermat Dinosa).

Recent Political Developments

Montenegro was one of the six republics of the former Yugoslavia.
In 1992, following the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia,
Montenegro entered a new federation with Serbia, the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia. This controversial decision (the Montenegrin liberal
opposition boycotted the referendum under conditions of near war)
is increasingly questioned and reassessed in Montenegro today.
The federation with Serbia is not recognized by the United States
nor by many other countries.